Gary Neville has warned England's players against seeking to exploit Mario Balotelli's combustible temperament in the Euro 2012 quarter-final with Italy and urged them instead to concentrate on maintaining their own disciplinary standards.

Previous campaigns at major tournaments have been undermined by untimely red cards, flashed at the likes of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney to leave the team playing catch-up, with the issue clearly a concern against a streetwise and experienced Azzurri. The temptation might have been to rile Balotelli, a player whom Neville had suggested was a "clown" who "lets you down time and time again" following his dismissal for Manchester City at Arsenal in April. That red card had prompted the Italian's third ban of the season.

Yet Neville, having swapped television punditry for a place on the England coaching staff, believes attempts to provoke the forward could backfire. "If you go into the game thinking 'I'll go and try to wind up Balotelli', you could get sent off yourself," he said. "The way in which the referees are now stamping on every type of little thing that happens – pulling shirts, standing on people's toes … those days are gone. You cannot do it any more, you are just going to get banned for two, three, four matches. This is too important a game.

"We should be more concerned about keeping our own discipline and making sure we don't disappoint ourselves in that respect. In tournaments past we have had a player sent off and it has been a big problem. So we are concentrating on ourselves and the way we keep our own composure and discipline, rather than what the other team will do. You can't afford to think about that.

"Balotelli has been very composed in this tournament. You only have to look at his performances: he is a talent and a goalscoring threat. That's the biggest concern about Mario Balotelli to England, not whether we can wind him up."

Neville has been impressed with the selfless nature demonstrated by England on the pitch so far, as experienced personnel with established reputations have worked feverishly for the good of the team to thrust the national side into the quarter-final.

"There is a good spirit in this team and I genuinely believe it is a squad without ego," said the former Manchester United defender. "They are all working, playing and fighting for one another. Looking at the group, they are all as one and seem to be accepting of each other. They know each other's strengths.

"We have got big characters in the dressing room but they are all fighting for the cause in the way in which they are playing. And they'll have to continue to do that, because it is going to be damn tough on Sunday. There is no 'star' in the group. They are all working for one another and enjoying themselves – they're actually having a really good time. I recognise the characters in there and know where they're at. I know they're in a good place in their minds and that they are all wanting to do very well in this tournament."

Neville named five players – Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Joleon Lescott – he considers among the best in the tournament in their respective positions, with belief growing within the setup that this team can force their way into a first semi-final since Euro '96.

"If we can build on this base and get a little more flair into our game, be more incisive and precise – that's the bit we'd like to get into our game, moving forward," Neville said. "But, for now, the fight and spirit are there and we've got a defensive base. They say build from a defensive base and that's what is happening.

"I know there has been a great deal of playing down [expectations] but we will be absolutely gutted if we don't go through. It would be seen as a disappointment.

"There's no point trying to suggest we have got to the quarter-finals and that is 'par'. No, I don't think it would be recognised as such.

"It was an achievement to top our group but the real achievement would be to go through on Sunday – not to gracefully go home after a quarter-final. They recognise that they are two games away from a final. Just two games."